Portable door method and means

ABSTRACT

A secondary door such as a screen or storm door is mounted within a door frame comprising channel elements readily attachable and separable from one another. The channel elements are of standard sizes to fit over either standard front or standard rear door stops of the jamb and lintel of a permanent door frame. The channel elements are not affixed or attached to the permanent door frame in any manner whatsoever, so that neither hardware such as screws or bolts, nor the use of any tools, is required to install or remove the secondary door.

tlnited States Pappas Oct. 16, 1973 PORTABLE DOOR METHOD AND MEANS Primary Examiner--Kenneth Downey 76 Inventor: Michael E. Pappas, 17210 East- Mama-Allan wood Ave, Torrance, Calif.

[22] Filed: Jan. 31, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl- NO-I 222,121 A secondary door such as a screen or storm door is mounted within a door frame comprising channel ele- [52] U 5 CL 49/380 49/504 ments readily attachable and separable from one an- [51] IL 6 1/00 other. The channel elements are of standard sizes to ['58] Field of 388 504 fit over either standard front or standard rear door I I I 6 stops of the jamb and lintel of a permanent door frame. The channel elements are not affixed or at- [56] References Cited tached to the permanent door frame in any manner whatsoever, so that neither hardware such as screws UNITED STATES PATENTS or bolts, nor the use of any tools, is required to install 1,235,152 7/1917 Nelson 49/388 remove h Secondary door 2,833,248 6/1958 Meyer et a] 49/380 X 3,426,479 2/1969 Pease, .lr 49/380 2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures le l- PATENTEDUBT 1 6197s #2 v w m u PORTABLE DOOR METHOD AND MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In ordinary common usage, secondary or outer doors such as screen or storm doors are attached or affixed to the permanent door frame by various types of hardware such as screws and bolts, thus requiring the use of tools and at least some degree of mechanical skill or manual dexterity to install or remove these doors.

The problem becomes particularly acute in the case of tenants renting apartments who lack either the necessary tools or hardware or the required mechanical skill or dexterity to put up and take down the doors. Depending on local climatic conditions, it may be necessary to install and remove both a screen door and a storm door during the course of the year to permit ventilation without insects in warm seasons and to improve heat retention during the cold seasons.

In addition to the lack of hardware, tools and the required mechanical skill or dexterity, the average person renting a house or apartment is further confronted with multiple legal and economic problems necessitated by the installation of these external screen or storm doors. The landlord of the apartment building or of the home may be reluctant or unwilling to install or replace a damaged outer door, particularly a screen door which is easily susceptible to being damaged by small children, dogs, or misguided newspapers thrown by a paperboy hurrying on his route. The tenant then has to incur the expense of installing or replacing the outer door himself or suffer, from extremes in temperature. Should the tenant or apartment renter decide to install the screen or storm door, he will'be forced to bear an additional financial loss since the conventional screen SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION the door can be installed or removed in a matter of or storm door must be attached or affixedby strong wood screws or bolts or other hardware by piercing or marring or drilling holes into the wood of the permanent door frame. This has the legal effect under commonly known legal principles of landlord-tenant law of making the screen or storm door a f xture of the premises, which means that should the tenant or house renter terminate the lease or move from the premises, he must leave the door behind since the door has become a permanent fixture and thereby the property of the landlord. Thus the tenant incurs similar problems concerning these doors each time he moves.

The conventional screen or storm door that must'be attached or affixed to the door stop of the jamb and lindoor frame and thus can be installed by anyone without any tools or hardware or mechanical skill in a matter of just seconds.

The known prior art related to secondary door mounting or packing construction includes the following U.S. Pats. Nos: 939,004; 1,523,543; 3,200,447; 3,250,039; 3,430,385; and 3,584,416.

or 15 seconds without the use of any tools and involving no adjustments, calculations, complex operational steps, or mechanical skills.

Referring to FIG. 1, door 19 is completely mounted in thin sheet metal channel elements 10, 11, and 14, each of which has a boxlike cross-sectional configuration as shown for element 11 in FIG. 6. The channels 10, 11, and 14 fit over the standard doorstop strips located on door jambs and lintels in modern building construction, in the nesting relationship suggested by channel 11 over moulding strip 13 seen in FIG. 6.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a door mounted in a permanent door frame by the inventive mounting means described herein,

FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and S'are isolated enlarged fragmentary views of structural details in the mounting means shown by FIG. 1,

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 7 is an isolated elevational view of a hinge support from FIG. 1, and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT ing the invention disclosed herein, since the door in itself is not germane to the claimed structure, but rather the means for mounting the door. The mounting means principally comprise a plurality of rigid elongate beam supports 10, 11, and 14 which, in operative relationship with door 19, form an open-ended rectangularly shaped frame closely proximate the peripheral edges of the door as seen particularly in FIG. 1. Supports 10, 11, and 14 each have identical cross-sectional shapes comprising an open-sided rectangular configuration as seen by the cross-sectional view of member 11 shown in FIG. 6, for example. Elements 10, 11, and 14 may be of any suitable material of construction having the requisite strength, and in the preferred embodiment are thin sheet metal channels sometimes known as U sections which may be formed by extruding aluminum through a die but preferably are made by deforming flat strips of sheet metal to fold the long edges thereof substantially resulting in parallel flange portions 27 and 29.

The length, width and depth of U section channels 10, 11, and 14 are determined by certain door frame detail-dimensions as discussed more fully below. Thus,

in modern building practice, front and rear door jamb and lintel sizes are so standardized as to be almost completely uniform except in rare cases where homemade construction by nonprofessional builders may be involved. Door jam and lintel elements in a typical doorway include a strip of wood or door stop secured to each of these elements which functions as a partial seal and also as a stop means for limiting door movement during closure thereof. The foregoing relationship is illustratively shown in FIG. 6 wherein door jamb 30 has strip 13 permanently joined thereto. The same type of relationship exists between strip 12 and its corresponding door jamb (not shown) as well as strip which is secured to the lintel (also not shown). Strips l2 and 15 are shown in FIG. 2, while strip 13 is shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 8. The mentioned strips 12, 13, and 15 form a permanent part of every standard exterior doorway for dwellings or the like, and are of substantially uniform width and thickness within a relatively narrow range of variation, hence they may be considered dimensionally uniform in connection with the inventive concept disclosed herein. Channel elements 10, 1 1, and 14 are sized and configured to fit over strips 12, 13, and 15, respectively, in the relationship shown by channel 11 and strip 13 seen in FIG. 6. Thus, channel 11 may be seen to comprise flat center portion 28 and substantially parallel flange portions 27 and 29 adjoining portion 28 at the opposite edges thereof. The terminal edges 36 and 37 of flanges 27 and 29, respectively, contact the surface of jamb 30 throughout substantially the entire length of channel 11 from the top to the bottom thereof when the channel is installed as shown in FIG. 1. The distance at which center portion 28 is positioned away from jamb 30 as seen in FIG. 6 is determined by the horizontal length of flanges 27 and 29 in the same figure. It is of particular significance in the inventive concept disclosed herein that flanges 27 and 29 have a cross-sectional span greater than the thickness of strip 13, whereby a space gap 38 between portion 28 and strip 13 results when terminal or distal edges 36 and 37 are in continuous contact with jamb 30. The same type of space gap exists with respect to channel members 10 and 14 overlying strips 12 and 15, respectively, as suggested by gaps 39 and 40 shown in FIG. 2.

The importance of the mentioned space gaps may be understood by reference to FIG. 2 wherein latch assembly l7, haing translationally slidable bolt 41 situated therein, is secured to channel 14 by rivets 42 or else nuts and bolts. The attaching means such as rivets 42 used to secure latch 17 to member 14, as well as hinges and 21 to channel 11 and other components to the channel members, necessarily protrude through the channels and would bear against the soft wood or painted surfaces of strips 12, 13, and 15 in the absence of space gaps 38, 39, and 40. Spacing of the channel center portions away from the surfaces of the mentioned strips in the manner shown illustratively by portion 28 and strip 13 in FIG. 6 thus avoids scratching, denting or otherwise marring the permanent door frame structure in which door 19 is mounted, since rivets 42, for example, do not contact strip 15, as shown in FIG. 2. Also, the tenninal or distal end of bolt 41 which extends into hole 18 when the channels 10 and 14 are operatively engaged in the manner shown by FIG. 2 will not penetrate into or bear against strip 12 due to the space gap 39 which prevents such penetration or contact.

Referring again to FIG. 6, it may be seen that flange portions 27 and 29 of channel member 11 engage the opposite sides of strip 13 in substantially continuous surface contact and thereby prevent and restrain any relative lateral movement between strip 13 and member 11 while these two items are in mutual operative engagement as required to support door 19 in a doorway as shown by FIG. I.

In the preferred embodiment, door 19 is preferably secured to one or the other of vertical frame elements 10 and 11 by means of hinges, and adapted to make releasable latching engagement with the other of such elements. In FIG. 1, for example, it may be seen that door 19 is supported on U section 11 by at least two hinges 20 and 21, whereas the side of door 19 opposite from the stated hinges moves in an are relative to stationary frame member 10 and may be releasably secured thereto by a latch of any suitable type known to the prior art. Frame element 11 is attached at the upper end thereof to channel 14 by means of hinge 16 permitting element 14 to be folded into contact with element 11 along most of its length for a purpose discussed more fully below.

Due to the foregoing relationship, it may be seen that door 19 is permanently secured to element 11 by hinges 20 and 21, while element 11 is permanently secured to element 14 by hinge 16, the hinges being attached by appropriate means such as rivetting, spot welding, or the like. Vertical element 10 is separate from the mentioned assembly formed by items 19, 11, and 14.

Installation of door 19 at the entrance of a dwelling, house, or apartment is typically accomplished by the following steps. Member 10 is initially positioned over strip 12 in the relationship shown by FIGS. 1 and 2. Member 11 (with door 19 secured thereto by hinges 20 and 21) is then placed over strip 13 and snugly thereagainst in the manner shown by FIG. 6. The stated placement may be facilitated by tilting element 11 to engage the bottom edge thereof with the lowermost end of strip 13 near the floor or threshold of the doorway in which door 19 is being mounted. After this initial engagement, element 11 is rotated in an are about the stated lower edge thereof until it is in complete lengthwise contact with strip 13 and overlying the same. Then channel member 14 is pivoted about a center through hinge 16 into the position shown by solid lines in FIG. 4, whereby member 14 completely overlies and nests against strip 15. Latch 17 discussed above functions as a releasable holding means between the closely proximate ends of elements 10 and 14 to hold the same in relatively immovable relationship. While the mentioned holding means may take a variety of different forms suited for the purpose, in the preferred embodiment this function is conveniently achieved by latch 17 which may consist of an ordinary cupboard latch of familiar household type secured to member 14 and having laterally movable bolt 41 adapted to engage rectangular hole 18 near the upper end of member 10 and shown, for example, in FIG. 3.

To insure adequately firm retention of frame elements 10 and 11 in operative relationship as shown in FIG. 1, each of these members is provided with appropriate friction force means near the lower end thereof which may take any suitable form known to the prior art but preferably does not involve denting or marring the threshold or door frame in which door 19 is mounted. In the preferred embodiment, the mentioned friction means comprise a pivotally mounted rubbertipped doorstop of familiar household type 22 and 23 secured to elements and 11, respectively, and adapted to apply continuous holding force to the stated frame elements in a direction resulting in their firm engagement with strips 12 and 13, respectively, when positioned in the manner suggested by FIG. 1. The structural interrelationship between elements 10, 1 1, and 14 resulting from the details described above achieve a securely self-retaining assembly of individual parts wherein no relative movement between these elements is possible after their assembly in the operative relationship shown, for example, by FIG. 1. Moreover, no relative movement between elements 10, 11, and 14 and strips 12, 13, and 15 is possible no matter how much force may be applied in opening and closing door 19 after it is mounted.

Suitable means are also provided to bias door 19 toward the closed position, such means comprising elongate coil spring 24 which may illustratively be permanently secured at one end thereof to element 14 by eyelet 25 as shown in FIG. The opposite remaining end of spring 24 may be releasably secured to the upper portion of door 19 such as by a hook secured to the spring engaging an eyelet 26 mounted on the door. In order to adjust the biasing force of spring 24, variable tension adjustment means are preferably provided in the form of turnbuckle 31, which is secured in forcetransmitting relationship between spring 24 and the mentioned hook which engages eyelet 26. By shortening the distance between spring 24 and the mentioned hook, so that spring 24 must be manually stretched to permit engagement of the hook with the eyelet, pretensioning of the spring will result.

It is of further and particular significance in the mounting system disclosed herein that hinges 20 and 21 are adapted to provide the necessary pivotal support for door 19 without requiring variations in hinge size due to variations in the cross-sectional thickness of door 19, shown particularly in FIGS. 7 and 8. Thus, it may be seen that both stated hinges are of the offset type. Hinge 20 seen in FIG. 8 is identical in form and function with hinge 21, and has a mounting flange 33 adapted to be secured to channel by suitable means such as rivets 42. Flange 33 is bent so as to overlie portion 27 of channel 11 and to provide bearing plate 32 which contacts jamb 30 and engages a hingepin 43. Pivotal hinge plate 34 is operatively engaged with pin 43 and is adapted to be attached to a side edge of door 19 by suitable means such as spot-welding or rivetting. The closed position of door 19 is suggested by broken lines in FIG. 8, from which it will be understood that plate 34 bears against plate 32 and door 19 fits closely within the distance between pin 43 and the portion of flange 33 overlying portion 27 of channel 11.

Based upon the structural details described above and shown in the drawings, it may be seen that the frame defined by elements 10, 11, and 14, together with door 19 secured thereon, is readily removable from the doorway in which it may be mounted by simply disengaging the hook from eyelet 26 and by withdrawing the bolt in latch 17 from hole 18, permitting separation of element 10 from element 14. Door 19 .6 and operatively related supporting elements are thus rapidly and easily removable for storage or relocation on a different doorway without turning any screws or leaving any evidence that a screen door was ever installed on strips 12, 13, and 15. Moreover, no special skills are required to install or remove door 19, the only connection means between elements of the total door and support system being a hook and a cupboard latch. The entire operation of installation or removal is done with no tools whatsoever, and typically requires no more than fifteen seconds for each operation. Thus, a tenant purchasing a screen or storm secondary door for his own private use, at the front or rear of a rented house or apartment, can quite easily avoid any legal issues as to whether or not the door became a fixture in the legal sense when it was mounted at such entrance. Thus he can take the door with him wherever he moves since it remains his property and does not become the property of the landlord. In fact, due to its ease of installation and removal in a few seconds of time, secondary doors using the novel support system disclosed herein can be moved between dwellings, for a single day's or evenings use and then returned to their previous location the following morning. Apartment dwellers who are used to living without the convenience or luxury of screen or storm doors, or who are confronted by landlords who refuse to repair or replace their screen or storm door when broken or damaged, can feel confident that the expense of providing a secondary door for their own use will not be forever lost to them personally because it became a fixture. Also, they need not worry about having any tools or screws or any mechanical skill or knowledge whatsoever to be able to enjoy the'full advantages of having such a portable secondary door.

I claim:

- l. A prehung door support system for a secondary door to be installed in a door frame containing a permanently mounted external door at the entrance of a building, said door frame having upright door jambs and a connecting lintel with doorstop molding strips on said jambs and lintel, said support system comprising:

a segmented door frame consisting of elongate U- section channel elements each defining an openside rectangle in cross-sectional configuration and adapted to overlie said molding strips,

said U-section channel elements each having a flat center portion and two parallel flange portions adjaent and coextensive with said center portion, said two flange portions engaging opposite sides of said molding strips,

releasable connecting means on said channel elements for releasably securing said channel elements together to form said segmented door frame, and plurality of spaced-apart offset hinges secured to one of said channel elements for supporting said secondary door in pivotal relationship with one said channel element; each said hinge having two plates operatively engaging a hingepin, one of said plates having two bends thereon.

2. A prehung door support system for a secondary door to be installed in a door frame containing a permanently mounted external door at the entrance of a building, said door frame having upright door jambs and a connecting lintel with doorstop molding strips on said jambs and lintel, said support system comprising:

a segmented door frame consisting of elongate U- section channel elements each defining an opensaid releasable connecting means including a hinge secured between two of said channel elements and a latch secured to one of said channel elements, said latch having a translationally slidable bolt adapted to engage a hole formed in another of said channel elements, and

hinge means secured to one of said channel elements for supporting said secondary door in pivotal relationship with said one channel element. 

1. A prehung door support system for a secondary door to be installed in a door frame containing a permanently mounted external door at the entrance of a building, said door frame having upright door jambs and a connecting lintel with doorstop molding strips on said jambs and lintel, said support system comprising: a segmented door frame consisting of elongate U-section channel elements each defining an open-sideD rectangle in crosssectional configuration and adapted to overlie said molding strips, said U-section channel elements each having a flat center portion and two parallel flange portions adjacent and coextensive with said center portion, said two flange portions engaging opposite sides of said molding strips, releasable connecting means on said channel elements for releasably securing said channel elements together to form said segmented door frame, and a plurality of spaced-apart offset hinges secured to one of said channel elements for supporting said secondary door in pivotal relationship with one said channel element; each said hinge having two plates operatively engaging a hingepin, one of said plates having two 90* bends thereon.
 2. A prehung door support system for a secondary door to be installed in a door frame containing a permanently mounted external door at the entrance of a building, said door frame having upright door jambs and a connecting lintel with doorstop molding strips on said jambs and lintel, said support system comprising: a segmented door frame consisting of elongate U-section channel elements each defining an open-sided rectangle in cross-sectional configuration and adapted to overlie said molding strips, said U-section channel elements each having a flat center portion and two parallel flange portions adjacent and coextensive with said center portion, said two flange portions engaging opposite sides of said molding strips, releasable connecting means on said channel elements for releasably securing said channel elements together to form said segmented door frame; said releasable connecting means including a hinge secured between two of said channel elements and a latch secured to one of said channel elements, said latch having a translationally slidable bolt adapted to engage a hole formed in another of said channel elements, and hinge means secured to one of said channel elements for supporting said secondary door in pivotal relationship with said one channel element. 